Archeria serpyllifolia is a dense, compact, low growing shrub, that is endemic to Tasmania, Australia, inhabiting the undisturbed alpine areas of southern and south-west Tasmania.[2] This plant is commonly referred to by Australasian naturalists as thyme archeria.
The Archeria genus is a part of the Ericaceae family, a family of flowering plants that is commonly referred to as the heath family. Archeria serpyllifolia is one of six species under the Archeria genus.[3] This shrub is characteristically woody and rigid, ranging from approximately 15–25 cm in height, and exhibiting fasciculate, ascending branches, that are somewhat glabrous in appearance. The leaves have a high resemblance to those of Epacris serpyllifolia, which are small (up to 5 mm long), suberect, elliptical-ovate in shape, very thick and coriaceous and exhibit a minutely serrate edge.[1] Leaves also display a few veins on their light green under surface and are generally blunter than those of the similar species Archeria comberi, which also differs in having solitary flowers.[2] The flowers are crowded on a short, erect terminal, with six to eight flowered racemes. The peduncles bracteate at the base, and pedicels have one bracteole at their insertion.[1]
Archeria serpyllifolia is endemic to south-western Tasmania.[2] It is largely found on acidic soils and grows in montane environments at higher altitudes in shrublands and forests.[3] This alpine shrub often inhabits areas of mainly unburnt vegetation.[2]
This plant was named by British botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1844, after the nineteenth century Tasmanian botanist William Archer.[4]
Archeria serpyllifolia flower, Greg Jordan, 2019, University of Tasmania, Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants Archeria serpyllifolia is a dense, compact, low growing shrub, that is endemic to Tasmania, Australia, inhabiting the undisturbed alpine areas of southern and south-west Tasmania. This plant is commonly referred to by Australasian naturalists as thyme archeria.
Archeria serpyllifolia bud, Greg Jordan, 2019, University of Tasmania, Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants
